ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – There is no single test that can diagnose multiple sclerosis. Instead, doctors use a set of guidelines known as the “McDonald Criteria” to help rule out or confirm the disease.
Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, a neurologist with Cleveland Clinic, said more than two dozen approved medications can help control MS symptoms and limit disabilities. He said the disease begins years before a patient’s first attack, and earlier treatment leads to better outcomes.
“Multiple sclerosis is a condition that is very treatable,” Ontaneda said.
Earlier diagnosis, earlier treatment
The McDonald Criteria were updated in 2024, allowing doctors to diagnose MS using MS-specific biomarkers and MRIs to find early evidence of the disease before classical symptoms appear…